KNAU and Arizona News

There’s a map on the wall of the Cameron community center on the Navajo Nation with nearly one hundred red dots scattered all over it. They mark abandoned uranium mines. More than 500 of these mines exist on the reservation. They’re linked to cancer and other potentially deadly illnesses. But nobody knows the extent of the emotional trauma of living on land that’s contaminated. That’s the focus of a new project to raise awareness and bring healing through art.

Thousands of people have gathered at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota, trying to stop construction of a massive oil pipeline. The Dakota Access Pipeline would carry 500,000 barrels of oil a day from North Dakota to Illinois. "Water Protectors" are concerned it will destroy sacred tribal land and contaminate drinking water. This weekend, they were subjected to water cannons at the hands of police. Dr. Michael Lerma is a professor of Native American politics at Northern Arizona University.

The Navajo Nation and the retail chain Urban Outfitters have settled a lawsuit over merchandise the company sold under the term “Navajo”. Arizona Public Radio’s Justin Regan reports, part of the settlement involves a deal to sell Native American jewelry through the store.